The Endeavours and Achievements of the Cadets and Adult Volunteers of Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force

With origins dating back to 1860, the cadet movement is one of the oldest and most successful voluntary youth organisations in the world. Today it numbers 131,000 young people led by 25,000 adult volunteers in well over 3,000 sites across the country.

The cadet movement comprises the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), the Sea Cadet Corps (SCC), the Army Cadet Force (ACF) and the Air Training Corps (ATC). The SCC, ACF, and ATC are all largely community-based.

The Cadet Forces are sponsored by, but not part of, the Armed Services. They are entirely voluntary and members are not liable for ‘call up’. Members do, however, gain a basic understanding about defence, and help the Armed Services remain connected with the society they serve.

Cadets and adult volunteers alike are encouraged to work towards nationally recognised qualifications through the Cadet Vocational Qualification Organisation (CVQO).

Cadet qualifications are all entirely free of charge and range from the BTEC First Diplomas in Public Services and Music (each equivalent to four GCSEs at grades A-C or Scottish Standard Grades 1-3) to the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 2 Certificate in Team Leading.

Adult volunteers can gain a broad range of qualifications including First Aid NVQs, the ILM Award in First Line Management and Awards from City & Guilds ranging from a Licentiateship to a Membership in Strategic Youth Management which is equivalent to a Master’s degree.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force has over 1750 cadets training in 45 detachments across Greater Manchester, supported by over 200 adult instructors. GMACF helps 12-18 year olds to learn new skills, get real qualifications, make friends and enjoy adventures. It gives them a taste of Army life and the chance to develop away from home and see how much they can achieve while having a lot of fun in the process.

Cadet Detachments do weekly training throughout the year plus weekends away and a two week annual camp. Training includes military skills, like shooting, fieldcraft, first aid and navigation, together with Adventurous Training, like climbing, canoeing and mountain biking.

To ensure safety and good quality training, the staffing ratio is about one ACF adult volunteer instructor to every 6 cadets and female Cadets are supervised by female instructors.

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